If you’ve ever felt like your brain was juggling chainsaws while riding a unicycle... yeah, same.
When you’ve got ADHD and dyslexia at the same time, it’s not just hard to focus or spell a word right. It’s a whole-body experience. You forget what you’re doing mid-task. You spiral into stress over something small. You crash and burn trying to keep up.
And for teens? It’s even harder. They’re overloaded by school, social media, overstimulation, and the pressure to just cope. Most don’t even realise their brain is wired differently.
This combo isn’t rare either. Around 30 to 50 percent of people with dyslexia also have ADHD. But schools, workplaces, and even doctors often miss the connection.
Here are five things I wish more people understood — especially if you’re figuring this stuff out late in life, or watching your teenager struggle.
1. It’s Not Just a Learning Issue. It’s a Nervous System Issue.
Dyslexia isn’t just about reading and writing. ADHD isn’t just about focus.
Together, they impact everything — your ability to rest, your moods, your relationships, your sleep. This combo doesn’t just affect how you think. It affects how you feel in your body, in your environment, and in your day-to-day life.
For teens, this might look like zoning out, anger outbursts, or avoiding everything. For adults, it often turns into burnout, anxiety, or that constant feeling of being behind.
What helps is understanding that this isn’t a personality flaw. It’s a dysregulated nervous system trying to survive.
2. Disorientation Happens Fast — And Hits Hard
This one’s personal. Ever lose your train of thought and suddenly feel like you're spiralling? That’s disorientation. One moment you’re in control. The next, your brain is off in a visual rabbit hole, replaying something that happened 10 years ago or catastrophising a conversation you haven’t even had.
When you’re tired, stressed, or overstimulated, it gets worse. And yes — your teen probably experiences this too, but doesn’t know how to explain it.
What helps is catching the spiral early. Creating calm spaces. Reducing stimulation. And yes — improving sleep makes a massive difference. A well-rested brain copes better, period.
3. Narration Is a Superpower for ADHD and Dyslexic Brains
Many of us think in pictures or stories. But ADHD can make those stories chaotic. It’s like trying to explain how you feel while riding a rollercoaster.
Teaching teens (and yourself) to narrate what’s going on is a game changer.
“I feel weird right now.”
“My thoughts are racing.”
“My chest feels tight and I want to cry but I don’t know why.”
That kind of emotional self-talk builds awareness. It slows things down. It helps everyone around you understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.
4. Discipline Doesn’t Work. Boundaries Do.
You can’t force an ADHD-dyslexic brain to behave by shouting louder or trying harder. It doesn’t work like that.
What we need is structure with flexibility. Calm spaces. Reduced stimulation. Predictable routines that still allow a little novelty — we call this the 80+1 Rule.
Discipline adds stress. Boundaries reduce stress.
Things like no screens 30 minutes before bed. Headphones in loud classrooms. Keeping to-do lists visual instead of mental. These aren’t “soft” solutions. They’re smart ones.
5. If You Fix Sleep, You Change Everything
Sleep is the biggest unlock for neurodiverse brains.
But let’s be honest — most of us don’t sleep well. ADHD brains struggle to switch off. Dyslexic minds keep looping. Teens are biologically wired to stay up late and then punished for it by early school starts.
When your sleep is broken, everything feels harder. Focus, mood, energy, emotional control — all of it takes a hit.
That’s why we created Added Sleep, our first supplement here at Added Nutrition. It’s made for brains that struggle to wind down. No weird stuff. No grogginess the next day. Just gentle support to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.
If you or your teen is struggling with that racing-brain-at-10pm feeling — give it a go.
Final Thought
If no one ever told you that dyslexia and ADHD often come as a pair — I’m sorry. You deserved to know sooner.
But now you know. And now you can start finding tools that actually work for your brain.
Start with sleep. It’s not just rest — it’s recovery. It’s regulation. It’s where all the healing happens.
Check out Added Sleep and join the waitlist if you want first dibs when we launch.